Materials guide

Construction & landscape materials

Weights, coverage, common types, and a free calculator for every material. Use these guides to spec the right product and order the right quantity.

This library covers the 12 materials builders and homeowners order most: gravel, sand, concrete, mulch, topsoil, asphalt, crushed stone, pea gravel, dirt, limestone, sod and paint. Each guide gives weight per cubic yard, density, coverage depth, product types and the calculator that converts your dimensions into yards, tons or bags.

Gravel

How much gravel you need, what a yard weighs, and which type fits your project.

~2,400–2,900 lb per cubic yard

Sand

Choose the right sand for pavers, mortar, or bedding and estimate the load accurately.

~2,600–2,700 lb per cubic yard (dry)

Concrete

How many yards you need, what PSI to spec, and how to order the right mix.

~4,000 lb (2 tons) per cubic yard

Mulch

Pick the right mulch for beds, trees, or playgrounds and order the right number of yards.

~400–800 lb per cubic yard

Topsoil

Screened, blended, or fill — how to spec and order the right topsoil.

~2,000–2,700 lb per cubic yard

Asphalt

Estimate hot-mix asphalt tonnage for driveways, lots, and overlays.

~3,900–4,050 lb per cubic yard (compacted)

Crushed Stone

#57, #8, ¾″ minus — which crushed stone goes where.

~2,700 lb per cubic yard

Pea Gravel

Smooth, rounded ⅜″ stone for patios, paths, and play areas.

~2,700–2,800 lb per cubic yard

Fill Dirt

Structural fill for grading, foundations, and low-spot repair.

~2,000–2,700 lb per cubic yard

Limestone

Crushed limestone for base, drainage, and agricultural use.

~2,700 lb per cubic yard

Sod

Order the right amount of sod and pick a species that fits your climate.

Sold by square foot / pallet, not cubic yard

Paint

How many gallons you need and how to pick the right finish.

~11 lb per gallon (latex)

How much material do I need for my project?

Measure length, width and depth, convert depth to feet, multiply the three and divide by 27 for cubic yards. Then add 5–10% for compaction and spillage. The material calculators do that math for you and convert yards to tons or bags per material.

Which material should I use for a driveway, patio or bed?

Driveways use crushed stone base with a gravel or asphalt surface; patios use a compacted stone base with bedding sand under pavers; planting beds use topsoil with mulch on top. Open the individual guide for depths, and read the estimating guides for worked cost examples.